Android News

Android sales have been consistent after skyrocketing growth since 2009. In a ComTech report from analyst firm Kantar, that growth translates to Android dominating recent sales in key European markets and absolutely owning the market share in some countries.

In Great Britain, Android accounted for 57 percent of smartphones sold in the 12 weeks ending in June 2012. During that same period, Android earned a 49.6 percent share in Italy, 58 percent in France, and 68 percent in Germany. Aside from the 8.5 percentage point increase reported in Great Britain, all of the aforementioned nations saw a percentage point increase of at least 21.

None of these stats are impressive as the staggering numbers reported in Spain. Kantar claims that 84 percent – 8 out of every 10 phones sold recently in Spain – are powered by Android. That’s more than double the 41.3 percent market share reported during the same period in 2011, and is by far the biggest increase I’ve ever seen reported for a market share switch – almost to the point that I’ve a serious eyebrow raise about how reliable is this data.

“In markets like the UK, smartphone penetration in the prepay market is increasing. With Android handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy Ace and Y performing well. These models are attracting younger first time owners, a group who have traditionally been loyal to BlackBerry.”

- Dominic Sunnebo, ComTech Insight Director, explains in the report.

Perhaps the economic crisis in Spain has forced more frugality among new smartphone buyers. If cost is an issue in a market where a consumer pays full price for a phone, that steers them directly towards one of the multitude of entry-level Android options that are cheaper than the iPhone and BlackBerry.

The same level of recent success isn’t happening in the United States. ComTech data shows that Android’s U.S. market share dipped to 50.2 percent, down from the 57 percent reported during this same period last year. Meanwhile, iOS jumped from 28.7 percent to 37.4 following increased availability of the iPhone 4S.